The following is a list of the operas that will be presented at the Spoleto USA Festival 2018 (Charleston, South Carolina) or the Glimmerglass Festival (Cooperstown, New York) that I will be reviewing for operawarhorses.com in June and July, 2018.
Tree of Codes (Lim), Spoleto Festival USA (Charleston, South Carolina), May 26, 29, June 1, 4 and 7, 2018.
Australian composer Liza Lim’s otherworldly opera “Tree of Codes”, which premiered in Cologne, Germany in 2016, has achieved a significant milestone for a contemporary opera – the commitment to a new production, by another director with a wholly different concept as to how to stage the opera.
The new production by Singapore director Ong Keng Sen debuts at the 2018 Spoleto USA Festival in Charleston, South Carolina.
[[Below: the Son (Elliot Madore, left) is comforted by the Dresser (Walter Dundervil, right) in the 2018 Spoleto Festival (Charleston) production of Lim’s “Tree of Codes”; edited image, based on a production photograph, courtesy of the Spoleto Festival, Charleston, South Carolina.]
The opera’s two roles are sung by Marisol Montalvo (Adela) and Elliot Madore (the Son). Costume designer Walter Dundervil also plays the character of the Dresser. Maestro John Kennedy conducts. James Ingalls and Scott Zielinski create the scenic design.
[For my performance review, see: Review: Elliot Madore, Marisol Montalvo Perform Liza Lim’s “Tree of Codes” – Spoleto Festival-USA, June 4, 2018.]
West Side Story (Bernstein), Glimmerglass Festival (Cooperstown, New York), July 7, 16, 19, 21, 24, 29, August 4, 11, 14, 16, 17, 20 and 24, 2018.
Francesca Zambello’s production of “West Side Story”, first performed by the Houston Grand Opera, opens the 2018 Glimmerglass Festival.
[Below: For Maria (Vanessa Becerra, left) and Tony (Joe Leppek, right) it’s love at first sight; edited image, based on a Karli Cadel photograph, courtesy of the Glimmerglass Festival.]
The Glimmerglass Festival casts are led by Joseph Leppek as Tony, Vanessa Becerra as Maria, Brian Vu as Riff and Carl Dupont as Bernardo.
[For my review of the Zambello production of “West Side Story” at the Houston Grand Opera, see: Review: Francesca Zambello’s Spirited Mounting of Bernstein’s “West Side Story” – Houston Grand Opera, April 28, 2018.]
[For my performance review, see: Review – Glimmerglass Festival’s Dazzling “West Side Story”: Youthful Artistry, Theatrical Authenticity, July 19, 2018.]
Cunning Little Vixen (Janacek), Glimmerglass Festival (Cooperstown, New York), July 8, 21, 30, August 5, 7, 10, 16, 18 and 25, 2018.
Janacek’s opera “Cunning Little Vixen” gives voice to many of the creatures of the forest. Humans are represented by the Forester, to be sung by bass-baritone Eric Owens. Heather Phillips is the Vixen, with Glimmerglass Festival Young Artists Alyssa Martin and Zachary Owen as both the Parson and the Badger.
[Below: (from top to bottom) the Fox (Alyssa Martin), the Vixen (Joanna Latini) and the Kits (from left to right, Lilly Gaddy, Catie LeCours and Maggie Stephens); edited image, based on a Karli Cadel photograph, courtesy of the Glimmerglass Festival..]
A new production with a fresh concept is directed by E. Loren Meeker with choreography by Eric Sean Fogle. For the occasion, a new English translation has been devised by Kelley Rourke.
[For my performance review, see: Review: Glimmerglass Festival’s Charming “Cunning Little Vixen”, July 21, 2018.]
Silent Night (Puts), Glimmerglass Festival (Cooperstown, New York), July 15, 22, August 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, 21 and 23, 2018
Kevin Puts’ 2011 opera about a famous episode in World War I, in which the opposing sides negotiated an armistice to celebrate Christmas eve together. The opera won a Pulitzer Prize for Puts and librettist Mark Campbell.
Young artists assume major roles. Mary Hangley will be Anna Sorenson, Arnold Livingstone Geis is Nikolaus Sprink, Michael Miller is Lieutenant Audebert and Michael Hewitt is Lieutenant Horstmayer.
[Below: German, French and Scottish troops on opposing sides pose for a photograph during a Christmas even truce; edited image, based on a Karli Cadel photograph, courtesy of the Glimmerglass Festival.]
The Glimmerglass Festival mounts its co-production with Britain’s Wexford Festival and the Atlanta Opera. Maestra Nicole Paiement conducts, Tomer Zvulun directs.
[For my performance review, see: Review: Glimmerglass Festival’s “Silent Night”, Profoundly Moving Content, Stylishly Performed, July 22, 2018.]
This list is supplementary to previous lists in this “Quests and Anticipations” series of selected operas being performed through January 2019:
Wagner’s “Das Rheingold”, “Die Walküre”, “Siegfried” and “Götterdämmerung” at the San Francisco Opera [See In Quest of Wagner’s “Ring of the Nibelungs (Zambello Production)” – June 2018.]
Donizetti’s “Pia de’ Tolomei” at the Spoleto Festival USA; Rossini’s “Barber of Seville” at the Glimmerglass Festival; Rossini’s “The Italian Girl in Algiers” at the Santa Fe Opera; and Donizetti’s “Roberto Devereux” at the San Francisco Opera [See In Quest of Rossini and Donizetti – June-September, 2018.]
Bernstein’s “Candide” and Adams’ “Doctor Atomic” at the Santa Fe Opera [See In Quest of New Opera Productions, March-August 2018.]
Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” at the Santa Fe Opera [See In Quest of German Operatic Repertory – September 2017-August 2018.]
Verdi’s “Rigoletto” and “Don Carlo” at the Los Angeles Opera and Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” at the Seattle Opera [See In Quest of Verdi Operas, March 2018-January 2019.]
Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” at the Santa Fe Opera, Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” at the San Francisco Opera and Leoncavallo’s “I Pagliacci” at the San Francisco Opera [See In Quest of “Core” Verismo Operas, February-September, 2018.]